Copy of letter concerning the passing of French currency in Ireland

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To the most Honourable the Earl of Oxford & Earl Mortimer.

Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain.

May it please your Lordship

According to your Lordships Order of Reference signified to us by Mr. Lowndes his Letter dated 29th. of April last We have considered the annexed Letter of the Lords of the Privy Council of Ireland concerning the making current the new French moneys of Gold & Silver in that Kingdom together with the annexed Report of Mr. Vincent Kidder Assay master there concerning the intrinsic values of those moneys. And by the weight of 55000 Louid'ors of the new species amounting to 1197hi. 1oz. 11dwt. we find that singly they are in weight one with another 5dwt.. 5gr. 7$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$mites. And by the Assays of several Ingots melted out of new Louid'ors compared with the Assays of many single pieces, We find that they are at a medium one grain & one twelft part of a grain worse than standard. And therefore by the weight & assay together they are singly worth but twenty shillings & six pence & three farthings in England. And in Ireland where a Guinea passes for 1£. 3sh. they are singly worth 1£. 2sh. At which rate the half Louid'or may pass for 11sh. & the Quarter for 5s. 6d.

Fifteen hundred silver Louises of the new species weighed 1470 ounces Troy, & therefore one with another they weigh singly an Ounce wanting 9gr. 12mites. They are an half penny weight worse than standard one with another, & therefore their standard weight at a medium is an ounce wanting 10$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$ grains. And so they are worth 5s. & three farthings a piece in England at present. And in Ireland where a Crown piece English passes for 5s. 5d these Louises singly are worth 5s. 5d$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{16}}$, & in the nearest round number may pass for 5s. 6d, & the half Louises for 2s. 9d, & the Quarter pieces for sixteen pence half penny.

All which is most humbly submitted to your Lordships great Wisdome.

Mint Office May 1714.

Is. Newton

E. Phillips